"And save everyone, including ourselves, a lot of grief."
"Precisely. Likewise, if they've found nothing new and they fail to address alternate possibilities-that Weber was working with the real killer, or unwittingly obtained the information for him-then we have grounds for appeal." He sipped his coffee. "How are you feeling?"
"Well enough to go to the trial, if that's what you're asking."
The session was set to begin promptly at eight; Lucas assured me this was normal for a Cabal trial. Unlike human murder trials, a Cabal session never stretched for weeks or months. Their court days ran from eight A.M. to eight P.M. and every effort was made to finish within a day or two.
We arrived by cab just past seven. The court and holding cells were almost exactly what I'd first expected the corporate offices to be, a renovated warehouse hidden deep in an industrial ghetto. Lucas had the driver drop us at the sidewalk behind one of the shabbier buildings.
Normally, I'd have insisted on paying the driver, but today I let Lucas. The last thing he needed was a squabble over cab fare. Every stress of the past few days was etched on his face. As he turned from paying the driver, I noticed his tie was crooked. I had to do a double take, certain I was mistaken.
"Hmm?" he said, catching my look.
"Your tie's crooked."
His hands flew up to adjust it.
"Here, let me." I stood on tiptoes to fix it. "You need to get some sleep tonight. In a real bed. We're moving to a hotel."
"Not until you're better."
"I am better," I said. "I look better, don't I?"
A small smile. "Better than better."
"Well, then-"
"Oh, look," a voice said behind me. "If it isn't the geek crusader."
Lucas stiffened. I stifled the urge to sling a fireball over my shoulder. Lucas didn't need this. A fireball would be justified. Inappropriate, but justified.
I turned to see a slim, well-built man in his early thirties, his model-caliber face marred by a sneer. Behind him stood William Cortez, which led me to hazard a guess at the identity of the younger man: Carlos.
"There must be a protest march going on somewhere," William said. "I'm sure they'd be more appreciative of your talents, Lucas. Leave the real work to the grown-ups."
I clenched my jaw to keep from reminding him who'd done the "real work" of bringing in the killer, and risked their lives to do so.
"Paige, you've met William," Lucas said. "And this is Carlos. Carlos, Paige. Now, if you'll excuse us-"
"Not bad, little brother," Carlos said as he checked me out. "Got to hand it to you. Better than I expected. You must have some hidden assets after all."
"Oh, Lucas has hidden assets," William said. "About five million of them, and that's just the guarantee. Hold out for the big gamble, and he has a half-billion more."
Carlos laughed. "No shit. That kind of dough, any loser can get laid, huh? A few blow jobs is a small price to pay for a shot at Cortez cash."
"Not necessarily," I said. "From what I hear, it can be too high a price." I met Carlos's gaze and smiled. "At least with some of the Cortezes."
His eyes hardened. "Like hell."
"If you say so."
I let Lucas lead me away. We'd gone about five steps when he leaned down.
"Dare I ask?" he whispered.
"Jaime."
He started to laugh, but choked it back. "Jaime and Carlos?"
"No," I said. "Jaime and not Carlos. She decided five million wasn't enough."
His laugh escaped then, a burst of laughter that made me grin and squeeze his hand. I glanced back to see Carlos glaring after us. Guess I hadn't made a new friend. Too bad.
"To be honest, I suspect it's far less than five million by now," Lucas said as we walked. "At the rate he goes through money, I'd say Carlos is down to about five dollars. He'll have to hold out for the inheritance."
"I thought five million was the inheritance."
"No, the trust fund." His lips curved. "Silence falls, as she refrains from stating the obvious, namely that her impoverished boyfriend is not as impoverished as she believed. Remember that next time you challenge me for paying cab fare."
Lucas pulled open the back door to the warehouse, and we stepped through into a lobby that would be the envy of any small-town courthouse..A few people milled about, but Lucas looked neither left nor right, just led me toward a set of interior double doors.
"Somehow I suspect you're no more able to pay the cab fare now than you were ten minutes ago," I said. "No trust-fund-dipping from this Cortez. You could be kidnapped by demon guerillas and still refuse to use any of it for the ransom."
"True." He smiled down at me. "But if you're ever kidnapped, I'll make an exception."
A swarthy young man in a suit and cap appeared at Lucas's side. "Mr. Cortez, sir?"
"Yes?" Lucas said.
"I work for the St. Clouds. Mr. St. Cloud's driver."
"Rick, isn't it?"
The man smiled. "Yes, thank you, sir. I just wanted to say we appreciate it, what you did, catching this guy. Griffin's inside. He'll speak to you himself, but I wanted to add my thanks. And, uh-" His gaze flicked to the double doors. "To say there's a back way in there, if you'd rather take that."
"Back way?" I said.
"Uh, yes, miss. Past the others. The Nasts and a few of the St. Clouds are in the waiting area. There's another way into the courtroom. You and Mr. Cortez might be more comfortable using it."
"Thank you," Lucas said. "But we'll be fine."
"Yes, sir."
The man backed away and slipped into a side hall. I glanced up at Lucas's taut face. All the tension he'd expelled on our walk into the building had returned double-strength. Once we walked through those doors, it was only going to get worse.
Lucas needed a distraction. As I glanced down the two side halls, I had an idea. Highly inappropriate but, sometimes, a little impropriety is exactly what you need.
"Nearly forty-five minutes left," I said. "We'll be sitting all day. No need to rush in there."
"Do you feel well enough to take a short walk?"
"Not what I had in mind."
I tugged him toward the nearest side hallway. His brows lifted, but when I didn't answer, he followed. I turned at the first branch, walked to the third door and opened it. An office. I tried the fourth. Locked. A quick unlock spell and the door opened into a large storage closet.
I flicked on the light. "Perfect."
"Dare I ask?"
"If you have to ask, you really are tired this morning."
He hesitated, then smiled.
"Well?" I said, backing into the closet.
He strode through the door, kicked it shut behind him, and cast a lock spell. I stepped back, but he grabbed me and pulled me to him in a deep kiss.
"Damn," I said, gasping as I pulled back. "I've missed that, Cortez. Last night I was wondering how much weight my hospital bed held. Should've conducted a test."
"Perhaps tonight."
"Uh-uh. Tonight we're springing for a hotel and a bed for two."
"Are you sure you feel up to it?"
I showed him how up to it I felt. After a few minutes of kissing, I slid my hands between us, unbuttoned his shirt, and ran my hands down his bare chest.
"You know, Carlos got me thinking," I said. "If I'm going to be become a CEO wife-"
"Co-CEO, wasn't it?"
"Sorry. Co-CEO. It's going to cost me a lot of blow jobs, isn't it?"
Lucas laughed. "Yes, a lot, I'm afraid."
"Then these few days in the hospital have put me behind on my quota. I have some serious catching up to do." I traced a finger down his chest and slipped it under his waistband. "The doctor said no bending, but he didn't say anything about kneeling."
Lucas's breath caught.
I grinned up at him. "Well?"
"As loath as I am to refuse, you are still recovering." He reached down and hiked my skirt up to my hips, lips going to my ear. "May I suggest something less taxing for now?"